Ceiling construction



Sept. 21, 1954 c. c. DRURY CEILING CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 13. 1950 COOPER C. DRURY IN V EN TOR.

A TT ORNE Y C. C. DRURY CEILING CONSTRUCTION Sept. 21, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 13. 1950 W um RT IT. W 1 l c Z 0 I w W Lay a i P H ATTORNEY Sept. 21, 1954 c, c, DRURY 2,689,630

CEILING CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 13, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 COOPER C. DRURY- INVENTOR.

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A TTORNEY p 21, 1954 c. c; DRURY 2,689,630

CEILING CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 13, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 COOPER C. DRURY INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY I Patented Sept. 21, 1 95 4- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CEILING CONSTRUCTION Cooper 0. Drury, Dallas, Tex.

Application November 13, 1950, Serial No. 195,311

6 Claims. (01. 189-85) I This invention relates to new and useful improvements in ceiling constructions, and more particularly to systems of constructing suspended paneled or grid-type ceilings.

In the construction of buildings, it is desirable to have a ceiling which may be connected to or suspended from the purlins of trussed or other types of roofs, whereby building panels, such as gypsum boards, fibre boards, blocks or the like, may be easily and quickly erected with a low cost of labor; and which will permit expansion and contraction of the panels due to temperature changes and the like. It is also desirable to provide a construction system which will permit the panels or blocks to be readily removed to provide access to the space between the ceiling and the roof truss structure thereabove.

It is, therefore, one object of the invention to provide an improved ceiling construction system by means of which the erection of the ceiling is simplified and facilitated by reducing the number Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for fastening the several supporting members of such a ceiling system together whereby a more rigid structure is provided.

A still further object of the invention is to provide supporting members for a system of the Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view of one of the purlin trusses and a. supporting member suspended therefrom, and showing of operations required and by means of which the cost of the ceiling construction is reduced.

Important objects of the invention are to provide ceiling panel or block supporting members having improved systems for connecting the members in a grid form and for rigidly holding the supporting members in place; and, wherein the supporting members are arranged to be erected .and connected from below, whereupon the ceiling panels, blocks or boards may be mounted on the supporting members from below, facilitating erection of the ceiling and reducing the cost thereof.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a ceiling construction system, of the character described, which is adapted for use to support electrical equipment, such as recessed light fixtures and the like, and foraminous air passage panels or sheets; and which will permit such devices to be installed and removed or repaired or serviced without damage to the ceiling structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means supporting panels constituting a ceiling in such a manner that the exposed surface, presents a series of panels surrounded by apparently continuous metal strips with a minimum thickness of the metal strip showing.

A further object of the invention is to provide supporting members for a system of the character described which are adaptable to various grid designs and sizes of panels or boards, and wherein the appearance and size of the design may be readily changed by changing the positions of the cross supporting members and the panels or blocks supported; thereby.

the manner in which abutting lengths of supporting members are joined together,

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the longitudinal and cross supporting members, showing the manner in which the same are joined together,

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the joint of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 taken on the opposite side of the joint of the member,

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through the joint of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is an enlarged side elevation of the fastening member on the end of one of the cross supporting members, showing the same in position to be locked to a longitudinal supporting member,

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective View of another means for fastening the cross members to the longitudinal members,

Figure 9 is an enlarged isometric view of the fastener of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is an isometric view of a fastener which is adapted to be used for securing single cross members to the longitudinal supporting member,

Figure 11 is an isometric view, similar to Figure 3, showing modified forms of supporting members and means for securing the members together,

Figure 12 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the joints of Figure 11, showing the cross members secured to the longitudinal member, and

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 12 showing 3 the longitudinal member supported by the wall angle of the system.

In the drawings, a building wall W supports spaced parallel trusses or purlins P from which is suspended a ceiling C. Plaster or wall board B may be applied to the wall W below the ceiling, and the usual wire and lath plaster partitions L may separate the building into rooms.

The purlin P may be of any desired structure, such as a bar joist, wooden beam or the like, but is preferably of the truss-T structure shown in Figures 1 and 2, wherein a pair of angle members having upright arms or flanges H and opposed horizontal arms or flanges [2 are positioned with their upright arms back to back and abutting against a zig-z'ag web member l3 formed of round wire or the like which is spot welded, between the angle members. The u right flanges II of the angle members are preferably criniped closely around the zig-zag web member [3 which is positioned therebetwe'en, as clearly shown in Figure 2, though it is not necessary. The horizontal flanges I2 extend outwardly on opposite sides of the web. At the upper end of the zig-zag web I3, a pair of parallel longitudinally extending spacer rods It are secured by spot welding on opposite sides of the zig-zag web member to reinforce the truss.

suspending wires l may be threaded between the upright flanges II of the truss-T purlins and have their upper ends wound around the horizontal spacer rods [4 so as to be secured to said truss-T purliris in the manner shown in Figure 2. The supporting wire extends downwardly below the truss-T and has its lower end connected to a longitudinal inverted T shaped supporting member i5 forming a part of the ceiling construction system of this invention. The wire extends through a hole 16a formed in the upright portion of the supporting member and is wound back around itself to support the member 16 at a desired elevation below the purlin.

A plurality of the longitudinal supporting members It are suspended from the purlins P by the wires l5, as clearly shown in Figure l, and a plurality of spaced cross supporting members H extend between the longitudinal supporting members, being fixedly connected thereto in a manner which will be hereinafter more fully explained, and form a grid-like supporting structure for supporting panels or blocks i8 of gypsum, fibre-glass or wood fibre board or the like to provide a paneled ceiling structure. Angle members l9 are secured to the walls W and partition L by nailing, bolting or the like, at the proper ceiling level, and serve to support the wall ends of the supporting members and the adjacent edges of the ceiling panels or blocks.

As will be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the in verted T-shaped longitudinal supporting members l6 are preferably made of lightweight noncorrosiv'e metal, such as aluminum, and are each formed with a vertical central web portion 28 and a pair of opposed horizontally extending bottom flanges 2|, and the web portion has an enlarged bulbar strengthening rib 22 formed at its upper end. At uniformly spaced intervals, narrow vertically disposed rectangular slots 23 are formed in the web portion of the longitudinal supporting member, and these slots are adapted to receive fastening members 24 formed on the ends of the cross supporting members IT, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 7.

The cross supporting members I! are also 4 preferably made of lightweight non-corrosive metal, such as aluminum, and are each formed with a vertical central web portion 25 and a pair of opposed horizontally extending bottom flanges 26. The height of the web portion of the cross supporting members is less than that of the longitudinal supporting members l6, so that the ends of the vertical web portions of the crosssupp'orting members will abut against the web portions 20 of the longitudinal support ing members below the bulbar rib 22 thereon. The bottom flanges 26 of the cross supporting members are cut away at the ends of such cross members so that the underside 2? of the end web portions of the cross supporting members will seat upon the horizontal bottom flanges 21 of the longitudinal supporting members and with the undersides of the horizontal bottom flanges of both the longitudinal and cross supporting members disposed flush alignment.

The fastening members 24 at the ends of the cross supporting members are formed by cutting away the upper and lower end portions of the web of the cross member to form an upper stop shoulder 28 and a lower stop shoulder 29, the reduced portion of the web being of a size which will fit rather closely in the vertical slots 23 formed in the web portion of the longitudinal supporting members. The stop shoulder 28 will engage the upper portion of the web of the longi tudinal supporting member just above the slot and limit further movement ofthe web of the cross rnernber' through such slot, and is so positioned with respect to the cut away portions of the bottom flanges 2B of the cross member that the ends of such flanges abut against the outer end of the flange 21' of the longitudinal supporting member when said shoulder 23 engages the web of such longitudinal member. The lower shoulder 29 is preferably spaced slightly inwardly of the upper shoulder 23 in order ,to assure clearing any fillet at the juncture of the web and flanges of the longitudinal support member.

Spaced outwardly from the shoulder 28 are a pair of opposednotches 30 which reduce the verticalheight of the web portion of the 'CTQSS member still further and permit the T-sliaped ears 3'1 of the fastening member to be twisted, the manner shown in Figure 3, to secure the cross su porting member to the longitudinal supporting member. The portions of the T- shaped ears 3| adjacent the notches 33 are beveled to act as wedges which will draw the shoulder 28 tightly against the vertical web por-' tion of the longitudinal supporting member when the ears are twisted.

Obviously, if the vertical slots 23 in the web portion of the longitudinal supporting members are spaced at intervals of, say, twelve inches apart, the cross members I! may be secured at intervals in which they are spaced on centers twelve inches apart, or any multiple of twelve inches. Likewise, the length of the cross members may be such that the longitudinal meinb'ers are spaced at intervals of twelve inches apart, or any other desired distance. However, as illustrated in Figure 1, the longitudinal members are shown as spaced substantially two feet apart and the cross members spaced at intervals of four feet apart; or, any other desired arrangement of the longitudinal and cross memhere may be employed to obtain a desired grid design.

Where the length of a single longitudinal supporting member is less than the distance between the walls of the room in which the ceiling is to be erected, several lengths of longitudinal supporting members may be connected by positioning such members in end-wise abutting relationship, as shown in Figures 2, 4, 5 and 6, and securing them in such position by means of connecting plates 32. The connecting plate isin the form of an elongate rectangular plate of a height substantially equal to the distance between the bottom flange 2! of the longitudinal member and the bulbar rib 22 thereof, and this plate has a plurality of spaced tongues 33 which are formed by cutting the same out of the body of the plate and bending them to one side at substantially right angles to said plate. The tongues are inserted through pairs of connecting plate slots 34 formed in the web of the longitudinal members adjacent the ends thereof and spaced to properly receive the tongues. When the tongues have been inserted through the slots, they are then bent inwardly toward the web to secure the plate securely to the web and join the two abutting members securely together. It is preferable that the ends of the longitudinal members be so formed that the slots 23 adjacent the abutting ends of said members are also spaced a distance of twelve inches apart. The joint and connecting plate are thus positioned intermediate the adjacent narrow slots 23 in the web of the longitudinal members.

i'he panels or blocks [8 of ceiling material, such as gypsum board, fibre-glass board or panel, or the like, may be inserted angularly through the opening between the supporting members, then turned into a horizontal position and permitted to rest upon the flanges of said supporting mem-' bers to rorm a closed ceiling. Likewise, if desired, an apertured sheet, board or panel may be providedto permit the circulation of air, and said panel may also be supported on the flanges of the supporting members as shown in Figure 1. Furthermore, electrical equipment, such as recessed lighting fixtures or the like, may also be supported on the flanges of the longitudinal cross members, such members being connected together in proper spaced relationship to form a frame for the fixture or equipment.

The bottom flanges 2| at the ends of the longitudinal supporting members may also be cut away to permit the lower edge of the end of the web portion of such members to rest upon the outwardly directed flange 35 of the wall angle member is which is secured to the wall or partition of the building. Similarly, the ends of the cross members I! may also be supported on such outwardly directed flange.

A slightly modified system of supporting members is illustrated in Figures 8 through inclusive, wherein a longitudinal supporting member 38, having a vertical central web portion 31 with a bulbar rib 31a at its upper edge and opposed bottom flanges 38 at its lower edge, is provided with spaced substantially rectangular openings 39 in the web portion corresponding substantially to the slots 23 of the form first described. A substantially S-shaped clamping member 40, having a rectangular central body portion 4| which is adapted to fit in the aperture 39 in the web of the longtiudinal member, is provided with elongate connecting fingers 42 which extend outwardly in opposite directions from and on opposite sides of the body portion. The outer ends of the fingers are provided with angular tips 43 which are arranged to. engage in narrow rectangular T-shaped cross members 46, similar to the cross members I! of the form first described and having opposed bottom supporting flanges 41 at the lower end of the web portion.

In this form of the cross member, the bottom flange is cut oif adjacent the end of the cross member and the lower edge of the web 45 rests on the outwardly directed flange 38 of the longitudinal supporting member, as clearly shown in Figure 8, and the tip 43 of the clamping member 46 is engaged through the slot 44 in the finger to hold the end of the cross member securely in place on the flange of the longitudinal member. The length of the cut away portion of the bottom flange of the cross member is shorter than the outwardly projecting flange 38 of the longitudinal member, whereby the end of the web portion of the cross member terminates short of the web portion of the longitudinal member and the bottom flange portion of the cross member is disposed in abutment with edges of the flange 38 of the longitudinal supporting members and in flush alignment with the under side of said longitudinal member.

A slightly modified form of clamping member is illustrated in Figure 10, wherein the member 48 is provided with a rectangular body portion 49 and a single outwardly directed finger 5D with an angular tip 5!, which are adapted to be used in the same manner as the finger and tip previously described. Opposite the finger, the body portion is formed with a pair of opposed flanges 52 which will engage the web portion 31 of the longitudinal supporting member to limit movement of the body portion 43 through the rectangular opening 39 in the longitudinal member, so that the tip 5i at the outer end of the finger may be engaged in the slot .4 of the cross supporting member to slots formed in the upright web portion 45 of clamp such supporting member securely in place on the longitudinal supporting member.

This single clamping member may also be used for securing the ends of longitudinal supporting members and cross supporting members to wall angle members, similar to the members 19 previously described, and having rectangular openings in the upright arm of the angle for receiving the body portion of the clamping member.

A further modification of the system of supporting members is illustrated in Figures 11 through 13, wherein inverted T-shaped longitudinal supporting members 60, preferably made of lightweight non-corrosive metal such as aluminum or the like, are each formed with a vertical central web portion GI and a pair of opposed horizontally extending bottom flanges 62 extending longitudinally of the lower edge of the web of the supporting member and an enlarged bulbar strengthening rib 63 extending longitudinally of the upper edge of the web of said member. At uniformly spaced intervals, two vertically spaced pairs of finger-like engaging members 64 and 65 are struck out from the web portion of the longitudinal supporting member, the lower pair 64 being struck out to one side of the web, while the upper pair 65 is struck out to the opposite side of the web. As will be clearly seen in Figures 11 and 12, these engaging members are arranged to receive the inner hook-like ends 68 of cross supporting members 69 similar to the cross supporting members I! of the form first described.

The cross supporting members 69 are also preferably made of lightweight non-corrosive metal, such as aluminum, and are each formed with a vertical central web portion 10 and a pair of opposed horizontally extending bottom flanges II 7 disposed longitudinally of the lower edge of the web portion. The height of the web portion of the cross member is less than that of the web of the longitudinal supporting member 60, so that the ends of the vertical web portions of the cross supporting members may abut against the web portions 1! of the longitudinal supporting member below the bulbar rib 63 thereof.

The bottom flanges ll of the cross supporting members are cut away at the ends of such members so that the underside 12 of the end web portion of the cross member will seat upon the horizontal bottom flange 52 of the longitudinal members, with the underside of the bottom flanges of both members disposed in flush alignment.

The fastening members 68 at the ends of the cross supporting members are formed by bending or molding the extreme outer end of the web portion at an angle of approximately ninety degrees to the main body of the web and providing an abutment face 74 at the extreme outer end thereof. This abutment face or shoulder is so disposed that it will terminate just short of the vertical web portion SI of the longitudinal supporting member when the end of the bottom flange ll of the cross member is in engagement with the outer edge of the bottom flange 62 of the longitudinal member.

The vertical portion of the web will slide downwardly between the fingers 64 on one side of the web portion of the longitudinal member, and the flange i3 will engage behind one of the fingers to hold the cross member against displacement from such position. Obviously, the catch member 68 of another cross supporting member may be disposed on the opposite side of the longitudinal supporting member and have its hook-like inner end engaged between the upper fingers 65 which are projecting on that side of the web of the longitudinal member. The flange E3 of this second cross member will likewise engage behind one of the fingers 65 to prevent displacement of the cross member from such position.

Obviously, if the pairs of finger-like engaging members are spaced longitudinally of the longitudinal supporting member, in the same manner as the vertical slots 23 of the form first described, the cross members 69 may also be spaced and fixed at any desired interval to obtain any desired grid design.

Wall angle members 89 having vertical flanges El and horizontal outwardly directed flanges 82 are provided with spaced engaging fingers 83, similar to the fingers (i l and $5, and which are struck out of the vertical flange to overlie the horizontal outwardly extending flange 82, as clearly shown in Figures 11 and 13. The ends of the longitudinal supporting members 80 and of the cross supporting members 69 will have their bottom flanges cut away to permit the lower edge of the web portion of such members to rest upon the outwardly directed flange 82 of the wall angle members and to permit the vertical web portion to engage between the fingers 83 to hold such members against displacement from the angle member.

Wire holes 35 are provided in the web portion of the longitudinal supporting members at spaced intervals for receiving the suspending wires l5, whereby the supporting system may be suspended from the roof trusses, or purlins or the like.

This form of supporting system will receive and support ceiling blocks or panels [8, or lighting fixtures or the like, in the same manner as the form first described, and has all the advan- 8 tages of that form. In addition, however, this form provides improved means for securing the cross supporting members in longitudinal alignment on opposite sides of a single longitudinal supporting member, whereby a checkered grid design may be obtained.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the constructions illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a ceiling construction having a plurality of longitudinal supporting members having vertical elements provided with vertical slots and a plurality of transverse supporting members, and wherein said longitudinal and transverse members form a rigid grid structure: a transverse supporting member having a vertical web and a pair of flanges extending horizontally in opposite directions from said web, said web having ends extending beyond the ends of its flanges, each of said web ends having a reduced end portion provided with notches in its upper and lower edges,

the notches in said upper and lower edges being aligned to define a tab portion having outwardly diverging upper and lower edges, each of said reduced end portions being smaller than said slots so as to be insertable through one of said vertical slots to position said outwardly diverging upper and lower edges of said tab portion partially within said one of said slots, said tab portion extending beyond said slot.

2. A ceiling construction for suspension from overhead structures including: a plurality of spaced parallel longitudinal members, each of said longitudinal members having a pair of flanges extending horizontally in opposite directions from a vertical member, each of said vertical members having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures; a plurality of transverse members, each of said transverse members being disposed between a pair of adjacent longitudinal members and having a pair of flanges extending horizontally in opposite directions from a vertical member; and a reduced extension on each end of the vertical 7 member of said transverse members, each reduced extension being provided with notches in its upper and lower edges aligned to define a tab portion on the outer portion of the reduced portion, each of said tab portions having upper and lower edges diverging outwardly, each of said reduced extensions being smaller than the apertures in the vertical member of said longitudinal' members so as to be insertable through one of said apertures to position said outwardly diverging upper and lower edges of said tab portion partially within said one of said apertures, said tab portion extending beyond said aperture, whereby twisting of said tab portion causes said outwardly diverging edges to engage said vertical member to rigidly secure said transverse memher to said longitudinal member.

3; ceiling construction of the character set forth in claim 2 wherein the position of the apertures in the vertical member of the longitudinal members issuch that when the reduced portions of the transverse members are secured in place therein the flanges of said transverse members are positioned in a common horizontal plane with the flanges of the longitudinal members and with the ends of the flanges of said transverse members abutting the adjacent flange of said longitudinal member to form a rigid pattern therewith.

4. A ceiling construction for suspension from overhead structures comprising: a plurality of spaced parallel longitudinal members, each of said longitudinal members having a pair of flanges extending horizontally in opposite directions from a vertical member, each of said vertical members having a plurality of transverse apertures spaced longitudinally of said member; a plurality of transverse members, each of said transverse members being disposed between a pair of adjacent longitudinal members and having a pair of flanges extending horizontally in opposite directions from a vertical member; means operatively associated with each end of the vertical member of each of said transverse members and extending through one of said aperpanels being disposed above the flanges of the pairs of adjacent transverse members and adjacent longitudinal members and having outer edge portions resting on such flanges; said means operatively associated with each end of the vertical member of each of said transverse members comprising a reduced extension having notches in its upper and lower edges aligned to'define a tab portion having upper and lower edges diverging outwardly, said reduced extensions being smaller than said apertures in the vertical members of said longitudinal members so as to be insertable to extend through one of said apertures to position said outwardly diverging upper and lower edges of said tab portion partially within said one of said apertures, said tab portion extending beyond said aperture, whereby twisting of said tab portion causes said outwardly diverging edges to engage said vertical member to rigidly secure said transverse member to said longitudinal member.

5. A ceiling construction for suspension from overhead structures including: a plurality of spaced parallel horizontally disposed longitudinal supporting members each having a pair of flanges extending horizontally in opposite directions from a vertical member; a plurality of transverse supporting members each disposed between a pair of adjacent longitudinal supporting members and having apair of flanges extending horizontally in opposite directions from a vertical element and having the ends of its vertical element rigidly connected to the vertical members of the adjacent longitudinal members, the rigid connections between said transverse members and said longitudinal members holding said members in a pattern, and the flanges on said longitudinal and transverse members being disposed in a common plane; and a plurality of celling panels each shaped to fit between adjacent pairs of horizontal and transverse supporting members and being disposed above the flanges of the members between which it is positioned, each of said ceiling panels having its marginal edges supported upon the flanges of the members between which it is positioned; each of said vertical members having a plurality of spaced apertures, each of said vertical elements having ends extending beyond the ends of its flanges, each of said vertical element ends having a reduced end portion provided with notches in its upper and lower edges, the notches in said upper and lower edges being aligned to define a tab portion, each of said tab portions having upper and lower edges diverging outwardly, each of said reduced end portions being smaller than said apertures so as to be insertable through one of said apertures with said outwardly diverging upper and lower edges disposed partially within said one of said apertures, said tab portion extending beyond said aperture and said outwardly diverging upper and lower edges engaging said vertical member adjacent said aperture to rigidly secure said transverse member to said longitudinal member.

6. In a ceiling construction having a plurality of longitudinal supporting members having vertical elements provided with transverse slots spaced longitudinally thereof and a plurality of transverse supporting members, and wherein said longitudinal and transverse members are connected to form a rigid grid structure: a tansverse supporting member having a vertical web and a pair of flanges extending horizontally in opposite directions from said web, said web having ends extending beyond the ends of its flanges, each of said web ends having a reduced end portion provided with upper and lower edges and having a notch in one of said edges, said notch defining a tab portion having an outwardly divergent edge nearest the outer end of the extension, each of said reduced end portions being smaller than the transverse slots in said longitudinal members so as to be insertable through one of said slots to position said outwardly inclined edge of said tab portion partially within said one of said slots, said tab portion extending beyond said slot whereby twisting said tab portion causes said inclined edge to engage said vertical element to rigidly secure said end of said transverse member to said longitudinal member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 14,184 Goodey Aug. 22, 1916 860,884 Priddle July 23, 1907 1,900,369 Smith Mar, 7, 1933 2,303,271 Haertel Nov. 24, 1942 2,396,735 Leigh Mar, 19, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 347,857 Germany Jan. 26, 1922 

